Should the latch mechanism be bent like this? It's a pretty beefy chunk of metal so I can't see how it could have gotten a warp that wasn't supposed to be there.

http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q27/AwwsChwA/z%20parts/?action=view&current=hoodlatch.jpg

Looks bent to me, but I don't recall if mine was straight when I R&R'd it.

Yes it is bent. Here is a picture of mine installed.